Monowheel stretcher-carrier.



B. J. PENNEY & H. W. BLANCHARD.

NIONOWHEEL STRETCHER CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.3. 1916.

Patented June 20, 1916.

nii errar tlllil.

BERTRAM JOSEPH PENNEY .AND HENRY WILLBY BLANCHARD, 0F JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA.

IVIONOWHEEL STRETCHER-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .lt une 2U, 19103.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, BERTRAM JOSEPH PENNEY and HENRY l/VILLBY BLANoi-Innn, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, and residents of Johannesburg, Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Monowheel Stretcher-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention appertains to inono-wheel stretcher carriers, that is, frames which are mounted upon single wheels and are adapted to carry or support, for the purpose of transport and other uses, an ordinary stretcher.

rlhe objects of the present improvements are to simplify, improve and cheapen the construction and increase the eiiciency of such contrivances.

The present improvements appertain to the construction and arrangement of the spring supporting means for that portion of the carrier frame on which the stretcher is carried or supported, to the construction of the frame and supports therefor, and to the means for securing the stretcher in position on the frame of the carrier.

The several improvements will be fully described with the aid of the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure l represents our improved monowheel stretcher carrier in side elevation with the stretcher in position thereon; Fig. 2 being an end elevation of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are views at right angles illustrating in detail an alternative arrangement for securing the supports in their extended and folded positions. f u

The framework of the carrier comprises two members 1, 2, which, as shown, are preferably made of flat iron or other suitable metal. These members 1, 2 are bent downward to form portions of the legs or supports for the carrier, and in their lower portions they are twisted or bent to provide parts 3, 4, to which are hingedly attached the more or less U shaped members 5, G, which form the lower portions of the legs or supports for both ends of the carrier.

7 are bolts which form the hinge pins about'which the parts 5, 6, are adapted tov hinge so that they can be folded against the downwardly bent portions of the members 1, 2 of the frame as sho-wn at 5a, 6a, in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

8 are spring washers and 9 nuts securing the bolts 7, and 10 represents pins or projections which form stops for the parts 5, 6, and serve to retain them in proper position to support the carrier.

11 are stays connecting the horizontal portions of members l, 2 with the downwardly bent or vertical portions thereof.

12, 13 represent two transverse horizontal pieces connecting the members 1, 2, near the ends of the horizontal portions thereof and to which they are riveted or otherwise fixed. The transverse members 12, 13, as shown in Fig. 2, are preferably shaped or bent downwardly in their center portions, to provide space or clearance beneath the stretcher when the latter is in use.

14, 15 are two suitably shaped pieces which are fixed to the underside of each of the transverse members 12, 13, one at either end, by means of the bolts or their equivalent 16. The members 14, 15,| are, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, curved downwardly at their outer ends and are attached to the laminated or like springs 17 (one of which is located beneath each of the members 12, 13) by means of the links 18, and pins 19 in the form of bolts, as shown, or otherwise.

20, 21 are two approximately U or V shaped members which between them carry the spindle 22 of the wheel 23, which latter is, as shown, preferably provided with an ordinary pneumatic or inflated tire. The members 20, 21 are attached at their upper ends to the two springs 17 by means of U shaped pieces 24 (to which said members 20, 21 are riveted or otherwise fixed) blocks of wood or other suitable material 25 and U shaped straps or clamps 26, 27.

28 represent four U or channel shaped pieces positioned at the corners of the carrier frame 1, 2, and bolted, riveted or otherwise secured thereto. The stretcher 29, when in position, rests in the four U or channel shaped pieces 28 and is secured therein by means of clamps or fastening devices comprising hook-shaped bolts 30', and wing nuts 31. y

32 represent chains or like flexible attachments for limiting the movement of the springs 17 in a downward direction relative to the members 12, 13. These chains serve for keeping the springs and parts attaching them to the carrier frame in correct relative position.

ation of raising or lowering it.

In Fig. 3 we show a means for securing the portions 5, 6, of the legs or supports in their extended position or lowered position, and also in their folded position. These means may be used in substitution Jfor or in addition to the spring washers 8. In this arrangement 33 is a piece riveted to the lower end of one of the vertical portions of the members l, 2, of the carrier frame, and 34 is a quadrant which is riveted to one side of each of the legs or supports 5, 6. The piece 33 is constructed at its lower end with a hole or opening 35 through which the quadrant 34 works when the leg or support 4 is being raised or lowered.

36 isa thumb-screw or the like which is screwed into the piece 33 and at its inner end engages 'quadrant 34 to fix the leg or support in either its raised or lowered position.

37 is a projection formed on the end of the quadrant to serve as a stop for the quadrant in the one direction, the direction in which it moves in the operation of lowering the leg or support. 38 is the pin about which the leg or support hinges in the oper- In the drawing the leg is shown in its lowered position in which position the stop 37 engages the piece 33 and thumb-screw 36 is tightened to prevent the leg moving in the opposite direction to that in which the stop operates.

i A stretcher carrier, as above described, is applicable vfor transporting or carrying wounded, injured or sick men from the `battlefield or any other place or from or along trenches or other .narrow spaces or Vpaths easily and quickly and with a mini mum of exertion and, particularly in the Vcase of long distances, where carrying the stretcher and patient bodily inv the ordinary way would be a very laborious operation, it rerducesthe number of attendants by one half as two men can take charge of it instead of four which is the number requisite for an ordinary stretcher.V The device can also be utilized for carrying ammunition, food, kits, or any other requisites to the firing-line or along Ytrenches or other confined passages, and in case of emergency can be utilized for making surgical or other operations or eX- aminations of wounded, injured or sick men, either on the field of battle or any other convenient place. n

llVhatV we claim asV our invention and desireV to protect by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a mono-wheel stretcher carrier, in combination, a frame, a wheel supporting said frame, and springs arranged transversely'or ,across the ends ofthe carrier frame efor carrying that portion fof the Y framevon which the stretcher is placed.

.y 2. Ina mono-wheel stretcher carrier,V in

combination, a frame, a wheel supporting said frame, and laminated sprin s arranged n transversely or across the ends o the carrier frame for carrying that portion of the frame on which the Stretcher is placed.

3. In a mono-wheel stretcher carrier, in combination, a frame, a wheel supporting said frame, springs arranged transversely or across the ends of the carrier frame for carrying that portion of the frame on which the stretcher is placed and fiexible attachments for limiting the movement ot the springs in one direction.

4. In a mono-wheel stretcher carrier, in combination, a frame, a wheel supporting said frame, laminated springs arranged transversely or across the ends of the carrier frame for carrying that portion of the frame on which the stretcher is placed and chains for limiting the movement oi' the springs in one direction.

5. In a mono-wheel stretcher carrier, in combination, a frame, a wheel supporting said frame, springs arranged transversely or across the ends of the carrier frame for carrying that portion of the frame on which the stretcher is placed and legs or supports for the frame which are adapted to be raised and lowered.

6. In a mono-wheel stretcher carrier, in combination, a frame, a wheel supporting said frame, springs arranged transversely or across the ends of the carrier frame for carrying'that portion of the frame on which the stretcher is placed, and means for securing the stretcher in position on the carrier frame.

7. In a mono-wheel stretcher carrier, in combination a frame, a wheel supporting said frame, springs arranged transversely or across the ends of the carrier frame for carrying that portion of the `frame on which the stretcher is placed, legs or supports for the frame which are adapted to be raised and lowered and means for securing the stretcher in position on the carrier frame.

8. In a mono-wheel stretcher carrier, in combination, a frame, a wheel supporting said frame, springs arranged transversely or across the ends of the carrier framefor carrying that portion of the'franie on which the stretcher is placed, legs which are adaptedto be raised and lowered and means for securing said legs in their raised and lowered positions comprising a quadrant fixed to one portion of the support, a guide for said quadrant Xed to the other portion of the support and means for securing the quadrant in said guide.

9.V In a mono-wheel stretcher carrier, in combination a frame, a wheel-'supporting said frame, springs arranged transversely or across the ends of the carrier frame for carrying that portion of theframe on which the4 stretcher is placed, means for securing the l'stretcher in position on the carrier frame, said means Comprising clamps in the form of hooked-shaped bolts and wing nuts, screwing said bolts into engagement with the carrier frame.

l0. In a mono-wheel stretcher carrier, in combination n frame comprising side members and transverse members Connecting said side members, and a wheel supporting said frame, the transverse members being shaped 10 or bent downwardly in their center portions to provide space or clearance between the stretcher and frame when the latter is in use. In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERTRAM JOSEPH PENNEY. HENRY WILLBY BLANCHARD. Witnesses:

G. FRIEDMAN, CHAs. OVENDALE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Pmtem Washington, ID. 

